Physical Geography Looking at the Earth Geography involves the study of places: their locations, their characteristics, and how humans use and move around them. NEXT
Physical Geography Looking at the Earth SECTION 1 SECTION 2 The Five Themes of Geography The Geographer s Tools NEXT
Section 1 The Five Themes of Geography Geographers view the world in terms of the use of space. Geographers study the world by looking at location, place, region, movement, and human-environment interaction. NEXT
Geographers and Historians Historians look at events over time Geographers look at: - use of space on Earth - interactions that take place there - patterns and connections between people and land Geography is the study of the distribution and interaction of: - physical features & human features on Earth
Methods of Geography Geographers use a variety of tools: - maps - photographs - charts, graphs, tables - scale models - five themes of geography Image NEXT
Theme: Location Where is it? Absolute location exact place where a geographic feature is found Relative location location of a place compared to places around it Continued... NEXT
Absolute Location Earth is divided into two equal halves, vertically and horizontally Each vertical and horizontal half is called a hemisphere An imaginary line, the Equator, divides north and south halves Another imaginary line, the Prime Meridian, divides east and west
Latitude Lines Geographers use latitude lines to locate places north and south Latitude imaginary lines that run parallel to the equator Longitude Lines Geographers use longitude lines to mark positions east and west Longitude imaginary lines that go over the poles Where latitude and longitude lines cross is the absolute location NEXT
Measure North and South of the Equator Measure East and West of the Prime Meridian
Relative Location How a place is related to its surrounding environment NEXT
Theme: Place What is it Like? Place includes physical features and cultural characteristics: - physical features include climate, landforms, vegetation - cultural characteristics include dams, highways, houses NEXT
Theme: Region How are Places Similar or Different? A region is an area united by similar characteristics Unifying characteristics physical, political, economic, cultural Three types of regions: - formal - functional - perceptual
Formal Regions Defined by a limited number of related characteristics Formal regions of the world: - The United States and Canada - Latin America - Europe - Russia and the Republics - Africa - Southwest Asia - South Asia - East Asia - Southeast Asia, Oceania, and Antarctica
Functional Regions Organized around interactions and connections between places Example: a city and its suburbs are connected through human movement Perceptual Regions Region with characteristics people perceive in much the same way Example: the American Midwest Sometimes perceptions differ: Does Midwest begin in Ohio or Illinois? NEXT
Theme: Human-Environment Interaction How Do People Relate to the Physical World? A relationship exists between people and their environment People use and change the environment to meet their needs People adapt to environmental conditions they cannot change Often, people in similar environments adapt in different ways NEXT
Theme: Movement How Do People, Goods, and Ideas Get from One Place to Another? Geographers use three types of distance to analyze movement: - linear distance: how far a person, product, or idea travels - time distance: how long it takes for person, product, idea to travel - psychological distance: Refers to the way people perceive distance
Section 2 The Geographer s Tools Geographers use two- and three-dimensional tools to learn about the earth. Geographers use computer-assisted technology to study the use of the earth s surface. NEXT
Maps and Globes The Geographer s Tools Visualizing Earth Oldest known map: Babylonian clay tablet, circa 500 B.C. Maps show locations of places, landforms, bodies of water Continued... NEXT
Two or Three Dimensions Globe a 3D representation of Earth Map a 2D graphic representation of Earth s surface Cartographer (mapmaker) tries to accurately reflect earth s surface Map projection way of showing Earth s curved surface on a flat map
3 Types of Maps Topographic map shows natural & man-made features of earth Thematic map shows specific data such as climate, population density A navigation map is used by sailors, pilots NEXT
Surveying Surveyors observe, measure, record what they see in a specific area Remote sensing, gathering geographic data from a distance, includes: - aerial photography - satellite imaging
Satellites Landsat is a series of satellites; can scan entire planet in 16 days Geostationary Operational Environment Satellite (GOES): - orbits in sync with Earth s rotation - gathers images of atmospheric conditions Continued... NEXT
Geographic Information Systems (GIS) is a digital geographic database Combines and displays information from many sources Global Positioning System (GPS) Uses series of 24 Navstar satellites to beam information to Earth Hand-held GPS receivers on Earth display exact position NEXT